68 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



The habits of this animal are somewhat nocturnal ; coming out of its hole in the dusk of 

 the evening, and hopping about in search of food. I have also noticed it during the day time, 

 crouched in a shallow cavity, with its body so much depressed as to appear nearly orbicular, 

 and apparently on the look-out for its prey. Although according to our notions of beauty he 

 is considered to be a disgusting looking animal, yet we are not to overlook his value in di- 

 minishing the number of noxious insects ; and I have been assured that his flesh is as delicate 

 an article of food, as the frog itself. It is a timid, inoffensive, and entirely harmless animal, 

 and has even been domesticated. The popular belief in its poisonous properties, is unfounded. 

 There is, it is true, an acrid secretion from the follicles of the skin, which may serve as a 

 protection against some of its enemies. Dr. Davy supposes that it may be excrementitious, 

 carrying off a portion of carbon from the blood, and thus be auxiliary to the functions of the 

 lungs. They live upon insects, earthworms, etc., which they always seize when in motion, 

 refusing to touch any dead food. In their turn, they are preyed upon by the larger reptiles, 

 especially by the two striped snakes and the other species. Like the frog, its young are 

 developed in water, and pass through the tadpole state ; and it is also furnished with a sac for 

 holding the water obtained through the cutaneous absorbents. It sheds its skin at certain 

 intervals, and according to the observations of Mr. Bell, swallows it as soon as it is detached. 



Dr. Holbrook informs me that he has seen this species as far north as the River Saco, New- 

 Hampshire, and probably it will be found still farther. Its southern and western limits appear 

 to be defined by the hilly regions, as contradistinguished from the alluvial lands bordering on 

 the Atlantic. Kirtland notices it in Ohio. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



B. Icntiginosus. (Holbrook, Vol. 1, pi. 9; and Vol. 4, pi. 1, 2d Ed.) Upper jaw emarginate; lower 



with a process in front. Head large ; superciliary ridge much elevated. Rufous brown. Length 



three inches. Southern States. 

 B. erythronotus. (Id. Vol. 3, pi. 21 ; and Vol. 5, pi. 2, 2d Ed.) Brickdust color above; yellowish 



white beneath. Head short, rather pointed. Length one and a half inches. South Carolina. 

 B. quercicus. (Id. Vol. 5, pi. 3, 2d Ed.) Very small. Head short, pointed; superciliary orbits 



slightly elevated. Body very flat, rounded at the flanks. A yellowish vertebral line. Length 0*75. 



Carolinas. 

 B. cognatus. (Id. Vol. 5, pi. 5.) Channelled posteriorly between the orbits, but effaced in front. A 



vertebral line, and oblique lateral yellowish lines. Foot with a spadedike process. Length three 



inches. Upper Missouri. 



